A Ballade Of The Scottysshe Kynge - John Skelton 1513.

 

King James IV of Scotland.

The Battle of Flodden, 1513.

The battle took place on 9th September 1513, it was one of the bloodiest battles in a long and turbulent history between England and Scotland. The conflict began when King James IV of Scotland invaded Northumberland, England, fulfilling the terms of the Auld Alliance with France after King Henry VIII had launched his own campaign against France.

James crossed the border with a large army and captured several English strongholds before advancing further into Northumberland. The English army, commanded by the elderly Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, marched north to confront him. On the 9th September, the two armies met near Branxton Hill, close to the village of Flodden.

The battle ended in a devastating English victory. The Scottish army was shattered, and among the dead was James IV himself, who became the last British monarch to die in battle. Thousands of Scots were killed, including many nobles and members of the Scottish elite. The defeat had profound consequences for Scotland, leaving the country politically and financially weakened and placing the young Jame V, then only an infant, upon the Scottish throne.

Flodden has consequently become one of the most famous and tragic battles in Scottish history - a battle remembered not merely for its scale and bloodshed, but for the death of a King and an entire generation of Scotland's nobility.

The tune "Flowers Of The Forest" was written about the battle, it is still played to commemorate Scotland's war dead.

The Poet, The Poem.

In the 1490s John Skelton was appointed as tutor to Prince Henry Tudor, the future King Henry VIII. In 1498 he was ordained, in 1500 became the rector of Diss in Norfolk, and in 1502 he was imprisoned for an unknown offence for a short time before returning to his parish.

Prince Henry described Skelton as a "glory of British letters" and after his coronation in 1509, King Henry made him "regius orator" or Poet Laureate. Skelton had a biting wit and some of his poetry made him enemies, as well as many admirers, some thought he was more fitted to the stage than the pulpit.

This poem concerning the battle of Flodden is the earliest version, news of the death of James IV had not yet been realised, a later version was published with the updated news from the battle and was called "Skelton Laureate Against The Scotties." In his style "A Ballade Of The Scottysshe Kynge" is a mocking poem, triumphalist even, I present it here as a historical document and as close to the original as I can.

A Ballade Of The Scottysshe Kynge.

King Jamie, Jamie, your joy is all gone.

You summoned our King - why did you do so?

To you nothing about it was fitting,

to summon our King, your sovereign Lord.

A King, a summoner - it is a wonder.

Do you not know salt and sugar apart?

In your summoning you were far too impudent,

and your herald was not at all skilful.

You thought you did it very valiantly,

but (it was) not worth three skips of a pie;

Sir gallant squire, you were too swift.

Your will runs before your wit.

To be so scornful towards your ally,

your counsel was not worth a fly.

Before the French King, Danes, and others,

you ought to honour your lord and brother.

Believe you, Sir James, his noble grace,

for you and your Scots would turn his face.

Now you proud Scots of Galloway,

for your King may sing "well away."

Now you must recognise our King as your regent,

your sovereign lord and president.

In him is figured Melchisedec*,

and you are as desolate as Armelech*.

He is our noble champion.

A King anointed, and you are none.

Through your counsel your father was slain,

wherefore I fear you will suffer pain,

and you proud Scots of Dunbar,

indeed you are his homage man.

And suitors to his parliament,

you did not your duty therein.

Wherefore you may now repent it.

You carried yourself somewhat too boldly,

therefore you have lost your copholde*.

You are bound tenants to his estate.

Give up your game; you play checkmate.

For to the castle of Norham

I understand you came too soon.

For a prisoner there now you are,

either to the Devil or the Trinity.

Thanked be to St George, our Lady's knight,

your pride is past - and we (bid you) good night.

You determined to make a fraye,

our King then being out of the way,

but by the power and might of God

you were beaten with your own rod.

By your reckless will, Sir, in a word,

you have lost spurs, coat armour, and sword.

You had bet better to have baulked to Huntly* ranks

than in England to play such pranks.

But you had some evil seed to sow.

Therefore you are now laid very low,

your power could no longer attain

war with our King to maintain.

Of the King of Navarre you may take heed,

How unfortunate he does now speed,

in double wells now he does dream

That is a King without a realm.

from him example you would not take.

experience has brought you in the same brake (trap).

Of the outlaws you rough footed Scots,

we have well easd you of your boots.

You raw rank Scots and drunken Danes,

from our English bows you have fetched your bones.

It is not fitting in tower or town,

for a summoner to wear a King's crown,

that noble Earl, the White Lion.

Your pomp and pride have laid him down.

His son, the Lord Admiral, is very good.

His sword has bathed in the Scots' blood.

God save King Henry and all his lords,

and send the French King such another fall.

Amen, for Saint Charity,

and God save noble

King Henry

the Eighth.

*Melchizedek - a Biblical character roughly meaning King of Righteousness.

*Armelech - a Biblical character from 2 Kings, with his brother they murdered their father and were banished.

*copholde - perhaps cup holder meaning protector or privilege.

*Huntly - Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly, co-commander of the Scottish left flank, they withdrew rather than help the center where the King was killed.